Exploding Bullet??

[Tom Hughes]

Here's a fired bullet from a .58 calibre Springfield. This was standard ammunition used by the Union troops at Vicksburg.
This bullet is unusual, however. When I found it, I noticed that it had some type of internal trauma resulting in an outward explosion.

Here's a view looking at the top of the bullet. It almost looks as if it was hollowed out and supported a black powder charge.

Here's a view from the bottom of the bullet.

I've dug bullets before that had been fired and distorted as the result of casting flaws before, but nothing like this one.
Any ideas out there? Could this indeed be some type of improvised exploding bullet??

 

[JOHN42768]

Could it have been a pulled and reused. The displaced lead in the nose could have ruptured through. Just a thought.

 

[Tom Hughes]

Could it have been a pulled and reused. The displaced lead in the nose could have ruptured through. Just a thought.

Very possible. Thanks.

 

[Kirk Womack]

It could be a williams cleaner with the center shaft and disc missing.

 

[Gandycreek]

I believe that is called a blow thru or blow out. From the bullet having a weak spot.

 

[Kirk Womack]

Or, of course, it could be the famous "musket shell"(ie explosive minie ball).

 

[tbuckley]

I agree with @Gandycreek. It's a blow through.

 

[Tom Hughes]

I agree with @Gandycreek. It's a blow through.

I'm beginning to think it was wormed and then fired and the hole made in the nose from the worming is what compromised it and caused the blow out.

 

[JOHN42768]

I'm beginning to think it was wormed and then fired and the hole made in the nose from the worming is what compromised it and caused the blow out.

So you concur with my theory. It made sense to me.

 

[Tom Hughes]

So you concur with my theory. It made sense to me.

Yes, I agree....It does make sense. Thanks for your input.

 

[rebed19th]

I agree that is is a "blow thru" This would happen when there is an air bubble in the casting. Here is an example of a gardner bullet that was a blow thru.

 

[Rhea Cole]

This is the patent drawing for Gardiner's exploding shell. p 294 The Rifled Musket by Claude Fuller

Both Union & Confederates fired these exploding bullets in combat. Could have some of them been carried to Vicksburg?

In June 1863 the 2nd New Hampshire Volunteers drew 85,000 Gardiner shells. About 14,000 were used in combat. The 2nd was engaged at Gettysburg. Federal officers queried ordinance officials concerning a strange snapping noise overhead at Gettysburg. They were informed that it was the sound of exploding bullets. 10,600 of them had been abandoned at Spring Vale VA. ibid. p 300

Jefferson Davis & other Confederate officials were adamant in denying that exploding or poisoned bullets had ever been issued by the Confederate ordinance bureau.

I have never seen an example of a spent exploding bullet. I would not count out the possibility that you have found one.

 

[Kirk Womack]

I have a hard time believing it was wormed and reloaded. Remember that civil war ammunition was rolled into cartridges. To reload a minie ball that had been wormed, you'd have to tear open another cartridge to get the powder. Why not use the fresh minie ball that is perfect and will fly true? If it is a blow out, it had a casting imperfection.

 

[rebed19th]

Just wanted to clarify my previous post. I posted a photo of a confederate gardner bullet that is a blow-through. My new post below is a photo a GARDINER explosive bullet, as referred to in the post by Rhea Cole. 2 different things. It looks like a standard 3 ring minie, but from the bottom the difference can be clearly seen as there is no cavity. There is also the words "S. Gardiner Jr. Shell Patent Secured".

 

[UCVRelics]

It is indeed a blow thru. If an exploding bullet what would keep the powder charge from setting it off with that big hole in the base. It was a bad pour with air bubble casting flaws from the plant.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Here's another, albeit somewhat unlikely possibility. If a cleaning round did not have its plunger, it could have blown out like the one in the original post.

 

[rpkennedy]

In June 1863 the 2nd New Hampshire Volunteers drew 85,000 Gardiner shells. About 14,000 were used in combat. The 2nd was engaged at Gettysburg. Federal officers queried ordinance officials concerning a strange snapping noise overhead at Gettysburg. They were informed that it was the sound of exploding bullets. 10,600 of them had been abandoned at Spring Vale VA. ibid. p 300

And the men hated them for both moral reasons (they felt that regular ammunition caused bad enough wounds and didn't like making things worse) as well as practical reasons (in their experience, the rounds could be rather finicky and were prone to failing). Plus, on at least 2 occasions at Gettysburg, shell fragments struck the ammunition box of a soldier which set off the explosive rounds. In one instance, the sergeant was killed by the fragment but then the men had to stand there and watch while his ammo cooked off and shredded his body. On the other known occasion, the soldier was able to rip off his box and throw it aside before he received more than a singeing.

Ryan

 

[Rhea Cole]

And the men hated them for both moral reasons (they felt that regular ammunition caused bad enough wounds and didn't like making things worse) as well as practical reasons (in their experience, the rounds could be rather finicky and were prone to failing). Plus, on at least 2 occasions at Gettysburg, shell fragments struck the ammunition box of a soldier which set off the explosive rounds. In one instance, the sergeant was killed by the fragment but then the men had to stand there and watch while his ammo cooked off and shredded his body. On the other known occasion, the soldier was able to rip off his box and throw it aside before he received more than a singeing.

Ryan

I would very much appreciate having the references you cite for my folder on exploding & poisoned bullets.

 

[rpkennedy]

I would very much appreciate having the references you cite for my folder on exploding & poisoned bullets.

I'll look in my notes when I get a chance so I can give you more details.

Ryan

 

[Rhea Cole]

I'll look in my notes when I get a chance so I can give you more details.

Ryan

Thank you. I hope your "piling" system is more organized than mine.